COMMENT: Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Barcelona are top of the league with a local coach?
They're into the Copa del Rey final with a manager of barely two seasons' experience? They've a Champions League quarterfinal date with PSG led by someone who's last job was a mid-table finish?
Is the Premier League watching? Are the owners of England's biggest clubs taking note? Because if Luis Enrique was English, he'd never get close to a top six job in the Premier League, let alone a top four.
Let's just park the cultural cringe for a moment and consider what Enrique has achieved this season.
By his own admission, nothing's yet been won. But sitting top of the table, into the Champions League quarterfinals and preparing for a Cup final is some achievement given what has confronted Enrique this season.
Despite the legal woes of Neymar's father. The tax problems of Lionel Messi and his Dad. The threats of jail for Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu. The two window transfer ban. Enrique, somehow, has managed to guide Barca into a position where there is a real expectation of the Treble.
He's had blow-ups with Messi. Had to endure Luis Suarez's delayed start. And even faced jeers from sections of the Nou Camp crowd. Yet, Enrique has come through it all - and even given Bartomeu a fighting chance at this June's election.
Can you imagine the state of the club, the state of the Catalan press if all the problems engulfing Barca and the club's identities off the pitch had made their way onto it? It would've seismic.
Dare we say it? Could Pep Guardiola handled things any better?
Just think of the rejuvenated Gerard Pique. Where he fell out with Guardiola and struggled under Tata Martino, the former Manchester United defender has thrived in Enrique's team. Messi is back to his best and Suarez looks every bit a €90 million-plus player.
Now, after four years of waiting, hoping, we're even seeing Sergi Roberto finally fulfilling his potential.
Speaking to some close to La Masia this week, Enrique has well surpassed expectations. Even now, there's still some directors surprised by the level of support members are showing the coach. But why? Given the hand they've dealt him, every director at Barca should be grateful to Enrique for keeping the spotlight on the pitch and not the mess off it.
And all this achieved with no trophies on the CV.
So if it's good enough for Barca, why not Manchester United, Manchester City or Arsenal?
The League Managers' Association should be pushing Enrique's success in a new PR campaign. Why couldn't Tim Sherwood achieve the same if he does well with Aston Villa? Or Sean Dyche at Burnley, Alan Pardew with Crystal Palace?
Why do we accept that the locker rooms of big clubs will only listen to managers with a long list of titles to their name? Lionel Messi, with his four Ballon d'Ors, is willing to work to Enrique's methods. If it is good enough for him, what makes the (now former) senior leadership group at United so special that they could treat David Moyes the way they did?
Enrique is breaking the mould this season. Just as Pep Guardiola did before him. But in England, there's next to no chance either man would've been given the same opportunity at a club of Barca's status.
More:
SPITE or humility? How La Masia clash inspired Lionel Messi and Barcelona to the summit
Daniel Alves: Forget Liverpool, Man Utd - why Barcelona future not yet over
